UT reassigns controversial adviser

Responding to an outcry from University of Texas supporters and concerned lawmakers, a $200,000-a-year “special adviser” to the UT Board of Regents has been reassigned to a position that reports to UT System Chancellor Francisco G. Cigarroa and will be terminated — at the latest – on Sept. 1, 2011.

The original appointment of Rick O’Donnell, an analyst for a conservative Austin think tank, called for him to report directly to Board of Regents chairman Gene Powell and assist two task forces researching higher education reforms. His employment was greeted with a firestorm of criticism because of papers he wrote for the Texas Public Policy Foundation questioning the value of higher education research and advocating that Texas develop an independent system for accrediting institutions of colleges and universities.

Under the restructuring announced Thursday, UT System spokesman Anthony de Bruyn said O’Donnell will move from the regents’ office to the chancellor’s office and will report directly to Executive Vice-Chancellor for Business Affairs Scott Kelley as a special assistant. He will provide staff support for task forces recently created, on University Excellence and Productivity and on Blended and Online Learning. Powell asked the task forces to report back to the regents in May, but de Bruyn said their work could last through the summer.

“Rick will serve at the pleasure of Chancellor Cigarroa,” de Bruyn said, but added that “on Sept. 1 the position no longer exists.”